Shell trimmer

ABSTRACT

A shell trimmer removing waste material from a drawn shell wherein a pair of cooperating cutting tools fit inside and outside the drawn shell to shear the peripheral edge; tool mountings movable toward and away from each other, and a rotatable crank acting on one of the tools to align such tools when separated for insertion of the shell and orbiting one of the tools respective to the other when the tools are in cooperative cutting relation.

United States Patent Inventors Robert M. Gold Minneapolis; Thomas L. Turnquist, Prior Lake, both of Minn. Appl. No. 2,153 Filed Jan. 12, 1970 Patented Dec. 28, 1971 Assignee Dayton Rogers Manufacturing Co.

Minneapolis, Minn.

SHELL TRIMMER 10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

1.1.5. Cl 29/L32, 83/ 1 86 int. Cl 826d 1/00 Field oi Search 83/184, 185,186, 6475, 568,569, 567, 566, 914; 82/82; 29/ 1 .32

II I I 1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,022,692 2/1962 Polanski 83/186 X 2,125,269 8/1938 Buff 83/186 2,516,451 7/1950 Daukus 83/186 2,526,163 10/1950 Shippy et al. 83/186X 2,669,302 2/1954 Brehm 83/186 Primary Examiner.lames M. Meister Attorney-Williamson, Palmatier & Bains is I l6 an Hui F /9 Z0 1 1 I l l 11 ll/1H l INVENTORS SHEET 2 [1F 4 HI II llllll PATENTED DEC28 197i A rraiwzys mzmmmam 316529.913

SHEET OF 4 FIG-.22 5-2 INVENTORS ROBERf GOLD Two/v05 1. rwPn/owsr 3 BY SHELL TRIMMER BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the shell trimming apparatus, the cooperating trimming dies are respectively mounted on confronting die holders, one of which is stationary and the other is mounted for orbital or gyrating movement. The tools or dies on the plates are normally aligned with each other so as to cooperatively fit within and around the shell to be trimmed. When the tools are fitted onto the shell and in position for trimming, an eccentric cam commences gyrating one of the dies and its die holder, the magnitude of eccentricity being first very small and then progressively larger until the shell is completely trimmed by the dies. The dies are then returned into alignment for removal of the shell and trimming and also for application of a subsequent shell for trimming.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a machine peculiarly adapted to embody the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section view through the tool holders and drive apparatus therefor.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section view of apparatus similar to FIG. 2, but adapted for mounting in a conventional drill press for trimming shells.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail section view taken at 4--4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section view illustrating the apparatus at an intermediate stage of operation wherein the shell and dies have been fully assembled just prior to movement of the camming crank downward to produce orbiting or gyrating of the upper die and die holder.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the crank advanced slightly further and wherein orbiting of the upper die and die holder has commenced.

FIG. 6.1 is a fragmental detail view showing a modified form of eccentric crank which may be utilized.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section view showing the trimming of a particular kind of shell.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the shell being trimmed in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a detail section view taken at 9-9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail section view showing the tooling for trimming a particular form of shell.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail section view showing the tooling for trimming another form of shell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1 of the drawings, a press, indicated in general by numeral 10 is especially adapted for the present invention in the form illustrated in FIG. 2. The machine has a frame 11 with a stationary headplate 12 mounted on rigid posts 13 for carrying a motor 14 providing the source of rotary power for the shell trimmer which is indicated in general by numeral 15. The machine 10 has a retaining plate 16 which supports the die holder or wiggle plate 17 on which the upper tool or die 18 is affixed. The lower tool or die 19 is affixed on the work table 20 which is held against any transverse movement in a horizontal direction, but which may be elevated through operation of the hydraulic control system 21 in order to produce the endwise movement between the dies 18 and 19 so that they may be assembled with a shell S for trimming the shell.

As illustrated, the die 19 is affixed and located on the work table 20 by conventional means, and the worktable 20 may have an air blast port 21 formed therein so that the shell S can be ejected by means of compressed air after the trimming is complete.

The retainer plate 16 is secured to the headplate 12 by a head retaining bar 22, and an upper retaining plate 23 overlies the die holder 17 and is spaced from the retaining plate 16 by spacers 17. The spacers and retaining plates are held together by screws 18. The die holder or wiggle plate 17 is sufficiently loose between the upper and lower retainer plates 23 and 16, respectively, so that it may move transversely and be moved in an orbital pattern.

Orbiting of the wiggle plate 17 is effected through a rotary bearing 24 which is mounted therein. The bearing carries a socket 25 which receives an eccentric crank 26 affixed to a rotor 27 and concentrically of the axis 28 of the rotor.

The eccentric crank 26 is conical in shape and has an axis which is spaced from the rotor axis 28. The lower end has a flaring and generally conical camming surface 29 concentric of the rotor axis 28, and the lower end of the crank defines a circular periphery 30 which is concentric of the rotor axis 28.

The socket 25 has a conical inner peripheral surface 31 identical in shape to the conical crank 26 to receive the crank and fit closely therewith. The socket 25 also has a flaring surface 32 which is generally conical, but may be rounded, to produce a cooperative camming effect with the flaring surface 29.

The upper and lower flaring or conical surfaces 31 and 32 converge toward each other and define a circular surface portion 33 therebetween which is concentric of both of the flared or conical surface portions 31 and 32 and which is complementary in size to the circular periphery 30 of the crank as to orient the socket 25 and die holder 17 in alignment with the rotor 27 and concentrically of the axis thereof.

Compression springs 34 serve to normally withdraw the crank 26 from the socket 25, and in this construction, the springs 34 bear against the headplate 12 and the retainer plate 23 to maintain the spaced relation therebetween.

A sheath 35 is mounted on the headplate 12 and surrounds the periphery of the retainer plate 23 to permit movement of the die holder assembly including die holder 17 and retainer plates 23 and 16, toward and away from the headplate 12.

The rotor 27 is mounted in suitable bearings 36 on the headplate l2 so that the rotor may be revolved rapidly by the motor 14.

In FIG. 3, the comparable apparatus for mounting in a conventional drill press is illustrated. In this arrangement, essentially all of the parts operate in a very nearly identical manner to that illustrated in FIG. 2. In this construction, the downwardly movable headplate 12 is movable along the upright posts 13 which are stationary with respect to the worktable 20 on which the stationary tool 19' is mounted for holding the shell S. This trimming apparatus 15' includes the source of rotary power 14' which is connected to and rigid with the rotor 27'; the shaft end 14' being adapted to be fitted into the chuck assembly of a conventional drill press.

The headplate 12 and the retainer plate 16 cooperate to mount the die holder or wiggle plate 17' and permit it to move transversely of the axis rotor 27 so that the die holder 17' may move in an orbital pattern. The upper die 18 is carried by the holder 17'. Orbital movement of the die holder 17' is provided through the rotary bearing 24 which mounts the socket 25'. The eccentric crank 26' is identical to the crank illustrated in FIG. 2, but is simply turned to a different orientation with the rotor 27'. The crank 26' has a lower end, the periphery 30' of which is circular and concentric of the rotor axis, and the circular periphery 30' forms the base of a generally conical or flaring camming surface 29' formed in an identical manner to that illustrated in FIG. 2.

The socket 25' has conical inner peripheries 31 and 32' which converge toward each other and define the circular portion 33, which is complementary in size to the circular periphery 30' of the crank.

In this construction, the rotor 27 is mounted in the headplate 12 by bearings 36', which permit limited sliding movement of the rotor 27' as well as rotation thereof in order to extend the crank 26 down into the socket 25'. The spring 34' normally urges the rotor 27 and crank 26 upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3, but permits downward movement of both the rotor and crank when the upper and lower tools or dies 18' and 19' have become assembled with the shell and when endwise movement of the wiggle plate assembly has been completed.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the progressive steps of operation are illustrated, and these views illustrate the operation of both the forms of the invention, but the reference numerals related to FIG. 2 have been applied. In FIG. 5, it will be noted that the upper die 18 has been moved endwise into the shell S and die 19 so that the die assembly is in the proper position so that or biting may commence for trimming the excess material off the upper edge of the shell S.

In FIG. 6, the rotor 27 and the crank 26 have been moved additionally downwardly toward the die holder 17 and into the socket so that the eccentric conical crank 26 is engaging the inner conical surface of the socket, and as the rotor 27 is revolved, the crank 26 similarly turns or orbits the die holder 17, thus producing an orbiting or gyrating movement of the die 18 for trimming the upper edge of the shell S.

As the conical eccentric crank 26 moves from the position shown in FIG. 5 to that shown in FIG. 6, the oblique orientation of the conical surfaces at the outer periphery of crank 26 and at the inner periphery 31 of the socket cause a very small orbiting of the die holder 17 and die 18 when pressure if first applied in an endwise direction from the crank 26 to the socket 25. This oblique orientation between the surfaces at the periphery of crank 26 to the interior periphery of the socket 25 produces a gradual increase in the magnitude of the orbiting or gyrations of the die holder 17 so that the amount of orbiting produced by the die 18 is gradually increased until there is a sufficient amount of orbiting as to sever, by a shearing action, the upper peripheral edge of the shell between the die 18 and the die 19. It should be recognized that when the conical crank starts into the socket 25, only a small surface portion of the crank 26 engages the socket 25, but eventually the entire peripheral surface of the conical crank 26 is engaged with the entire inner periphery 31 of the socket. As is particularly seen in FIG. 6, the die holder 17 and the die 18 is no longer concentric of the rotor axis 28. After the trimming of the shell has been completed, the eccentric crank 26 is moved upwardly so as to withdraw the crank from the socket 25. As withdrawal of the crank 26 is commenced, the crank still engages the socket so that orbital movement of the die holder 17 continues. As withdrawal of the crank 26 continues, the cam surface 29 thereof, which is generally conical and concentric of the rotor axis 28, will engage the lower periphery 32 of the socket 25 so as to reduce the amount of eccentricity of the die holder [7 and die 18 with respect to the rotor axis 28.

As the withdrawal of the conical crank 26 continues, the circular periphery 30, which is concentric of the rotor axis 28, will engage the circular inner periphery 33 of the socket 25 so as to align the socket 25 and the die holder 17 and the die 18 with the rotor axis 28. While the crank 26 is being withdrawn from the socket 25, the spring 34 retains the die 18 in assembly with the shell S and die 19, and only when the crank 26 has been entirely removed from the socket 25, as seen in FIG. 2, will the retainer plate [6 lift the die holder, which is now stationary, off the work table so as to separate the dies 18 and 19.

As the dies separate, the shell is removed from the die 19 by a blast of air and the trimming from the top edge of the shell is removed from the die 18. At this point, the dies 18 and 19 are separated from each other and in alignment with each other so that, simply by inserting subsequent shells into the die 19, the dies are prepared for operation again.

It should be recognized that, in the slightly modified form illustrated in FIG. 6.1, the eccentric conical crank 26.1 may have a flaring lower end 29.1 which need not be precisely conical in shape, but need merely be flaring to accomplish the result of returning the die holder and die to the position concentric of the rotor axis 28.

It will also be understood that tooling used by this trimming apparatus 15 may vary according to the result needed and the nature of the work.

For instance, in the tooling of FIG. 7, the die 19.1 employs a height adjustment block 40 with a canted upper surface so that the shell S-l may be formed to the desired shape. A comparably shaped hold down block 40.1 is used in conjunction with the dies 19.1 and 18.1 which are orbited by the apparatus hereinbefore illustrated. The shell 8-1 is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In FIG. 10, a stationary die 19.2 is used with a different shape of shell 8-2 supported partly by a height adjustment block 40.2 which is used in cooperation with a resilient hold down block 40.3 in conjunction with the upper die 18.2 which is orbited to effect the trimming of the shell. In FIG. 11, the shell 8-3 is simply cylindrically shaped with an end flange and has no enclosing bottom. The tooling 19.3 is disposed within the shell 8-3 which is supported at the proper height by a height adjustment block 41 and is held down by the peripheral end flanges through the use of resilient hold down blocks 41.1. The upper die 18.3 has a cavity 18.3 which receives the upper edge of the shell and produces the severing in the conventional fashion as the die 18.3 is orbited.

It will be seen that we have provided a new and improved trimming apparatus for trimming drawn shells by producing an orbiting or wiggling movement of the trimming dies to readily and easily trim the edges from the shells. The eccentric conically shaped crank fits into the drive socket for producing orbiting of the die holder, and first produces a very minute orbiting motion and gradually enlarging the orbiting motion so that the severing of the edge of the shell is completed between the dies.

What we claim is:

1. A shell trimmer utilizing cooperating trimming dies, comprising a stationary die holder and an orbital die holder,

means mounting the die holders for relative endwise move ment toward and away from each other for assembly and disassembly with shells to be trimmed, said means permitting the orbital die holder to move transversely in an orbital pattern whereby to effect the trimming operation of the shell,

and drive means effecting the orbiting of the orbital die holder after assembly of the dies on the holders with a shell, and including a cam and follower relatively movable in a direction along the axis of orbital movement to produce eccentricity of the die holders relative to each other and of the dies for trimming the shell.

2. A shell trimmer utilizing cooperating trimming dies, comprising a stationary die holder and an orbital die holder,

means mounting the die holders for relative endwise move ment toward and away from each other for assembly and disassembly with shells to be trimmed, said means permitting the orbital die holder to move transversely in an orbital pattern whereby to effect the trimming operation of the shell,

a source of rotary power for said orbital die holder and including a rotor movable endwise along the rotation axis thereof relative to said orbital die holder,

and a variable drive between the orbital die holder and rotor and including a crank and a cooperating crank-receiving socket, said crank and socket being mounted one on the holder and the other on the rotor and eccentrically of the rotor axis, the crank and socket having cooperating cam surfaces bearing against each other and lying oblique to the rotor axis, the camming surfaces moving along each other with endwise movement of the rotor to move the die holder transversely of the rotor axis and thereby orbitally move the die holder about the rotor axis.

3. The shell trimmer according to claim 2 and the cooperating camming surfaces of the crank and socket being generally conically shaped.

4. The shell trimmer according to claim 2 and the crank and socket having a second pair of cooperating camming surfaces bearing against each other and lying oblique to the rotation axis, and said second pair of camming surfaces on each of said socket and crank facing generally oppositely of said first mentioned camming surfaces to move the die holder transversely into alignment with the rotor axis as the rotor is withdrawn from the die holder.

5. The shell trimmer according to claim 4 and said second pair of cooperating camming surfaces on the crank and socket being flared about the rotor axis.

6. The shell trimmer according to claim 4 and all of the camming surfaces on the crank and socket being generally conically shaped for producing transverse movement of the die holder.

7. The shell trimmer according to claim 5 and including complementary and cooperating circular surfaces on the crank and socket and adjacent said generally conically shaped camming surfaces, one of the circular surfaces being carried by the rotor and concentric of the rotation axis thereof.

8. The shell trimmer according to claim 6 and the crank being on the rotor, and the socket being on the die holder, the conical camming surfaces of the socket being concentric and convergent with respect to each other and defining a circular surface portion therebctween,

the conical camming surfaces of the crank being eccentric of each other on spaced axes, the crank having an end to extend into the socket and said end having a circular surface portion concentric of the rotor axis and forming the base of one generally semiconically camming surface, the other conical camming surface of the crank being eccentric of the rotor axis, and said conical surfaces of the crank converging in opposite endwise directions.

9. The shell trimmer according to claim 2 and including spring means urging said rotor endwise of the rotation axis thereof and away from the die holder for maintaining the crank out of the socket and preventing orbital movement of the die holder until the relative endwise movement between the die holders is complete.

10. A shell trimmer utilizing cooperating trimming dies,

comprising a stationary die holder and an orbital die holder,

means mounting the die holders for relative endwise movement toward and away from each other for assembly and disassembly with shells to be trimmed, said means permitting the orbital die holder to move transversely in an orbital pattern whereby to effect the trimming operation of the shell,

a source of rotary power for the orbital die holder and including a rotor movable endwise along the rotation axis thereof,

a variable drive between the rotor and the orbital die holder and including a cone-shaped crank connected eccentrically on the rotor and extending convergently toward the orbital die holder, said crank having a flared end forming a circular periphery concentric of the rotor axis,

said socket having a cone-shaped periphery to receive and closely fit the cone-shaped crank and also having an annular and flaring cam surface, said cam surface and said conical periphery of the socket being concentric of each other and convergent with each other to define a circular portion complementary of the circular end periphery of the crank to fit closely therewith and align the orbital die holder concentrically of the rotor axis,

and a spring urging the rotor away from the orbital die holder to maintain the crank away from the socket until the relative endwise movement between the die holders has been completed for assembly of the dies with the shell for trimming. 

1. A shell trimmer utilizing cooperating trimming dies, comprising a stationary die holder and an orbital die holder, means mounting the die holders for relative endwise movement toward and away from each other for assembly and disassembly with shells to be trimmed, said means permitting the orbital die holder to move transversely in an orbital pattern whereby to effect the trimming operation of the shell, and drive means effecting the orbiting of the orbital die holder after assembly of the dies on the holders with a shell, and including a cam and follower relatively movable in a direction along the axis of orbital movement to produce eccentricity of the die holders relative to each other and of the dies for trimming the shell.
 2. A shell trimmer utilizing cooperating trimming dies, comprising a stationary die holder and an orbital die holder, means mounting the die holders for relative endwise movement toward and away from each other for assembly and disassembly with shells to be trimmed, said means permitting the orbital die holder to move transversely in an orbital pattern whereby to effect the trimming operation of the shell, a source of rotary power for said orbital die holder and including a rotor movable endwise along the rotation axis thereof relative to said orbital die holder, and a variable drive between the orbital die holder and rotor and including a crank and a cooperating crank-receiving socket, said crank and socket being mounted one on the holder and the other on the rotor and eccentrically of the rotor axis, the crank and socket having cooperating cam surfaces bearing against each other and lying oblique to the rotor axis, the camming surfaces moving along each other with endwise movement of the rotor to move the die holder transversely of the rotor axis and thereby orbitally move the die holder about the rotor axis.
 3. The shell trimmer according to claim 2 and the cooperating camming surfaces of the crank and socket being generally conically shaped.
 4. The shell trimmer according to claim 2 and the crank and socket having a second pair of cooperating camming surfaces bearing against each other and lying oblique to the rotation axis, and said second pair of camming surfaces on each of said socket and crank facing generally oppositely of said first mentioned camming surfaces to move the die holder transversely into alignment with the rotor axis as the rotor is withdrawn from the die holder.
 5. The shell trimmer according to claim 4 and said second pair of cooperating camming surfaces on the crank and socket being flared about the rotor axis.
 6. The shell trimmer according to claim 4 and all of the camming surfaces on the crank and socket being generally conically shaped for producing transverse movement of the die holder.
 7. The shell trimmer according to claim 5 and including complementary and cooperating circular surfaces on the crank and socket and adjacent said generally conically shaped camming surfaces, one of the circular surfaces being carried by the rotor and concentric of the rotation axis thereof.
 8. The shell trimmer according to claim 6 and the crank being on the rotor, and the socket being on the die holder, the conical camming surfaces of the socket being concentric and convergent with respect to each other and defining a circular surface portion therebetween, the conical camming surfaces of the crank being eccentric of each other on spaced axes, the crank having an end to extend into the socket and said end having a circular surface portion concentric of the rotor axis and forming the base of one generally semi-conically camming surface, the other conical camming surface of the crank being eccentric of the rotor axis, and said conical surfaces of the crank converging in opposite endwise directions.
 9. The shell trimmer according to claim 2 and including spring means urging said rotor endwise of the rotation axis thereof and away from the die holder for maintaining the crank out of the socket and preventing orbital movement of the die holder until the relative endwise movement between the die holders is complete.
 10. A shell trimmer utilizing cooperating trimming dies, comprising a stationary die holder and an orbital die holder, means mounting the die holders for relative endwise movement toward and away from each other for assembly and disassembly with shells to be trimmed, said means permitting the orbital die holder to move transversely in an orbital pattern whereby to effect the trimming operation of the shell, a source of rotary power for the orbital die holder and including a rotor movable endwise along the rotation axis thereof, a variable drive between the rotor and the orbital die holder and including a cone shaped crank connected eccentrically on the rotor and extending convergently toward the orbital die holder, said crank having a flared end forming a circular periphery concentric of the rotor axis, said socket having a cone-shaped periphery to receive and closely fit the cone-shaped crank and also having an annular and flaring cam surface, said cam surface and said conical periphery of the socket being concentric of each other and convergent with each other to define a circular portion complementary of the circular end periphery of the crank to fit closely therewith and align the orbital die holder concentrically of the rotor axis, and a spring urging the rotor away from the orbital die holder to maintain the crank away from the socket until the relative endwise movement between the die holders has been completed for assembly of the dies with the shell for trimming. 